White

by Shimmy748

There are two journeys in life ones you expect and the ones unexpected and as Okabe was finding out sometimes the most memorable journeys are you ones least expected, especially if his assistant was along for the ride. *This is a continuation of my one-shot Overseas, so if you haven't checked it out well I would advise to at least skim over it, but it isn't necessary.

2. Chapter 2

Welcome back and hope you are all safe out there! First off I want to apologize cause I said in the last chapter this chapter was gonna be shorter than 15k, but it's actually longer by 5k as it is 20.6k words, not counting A/N, this wasn't intentional not at all. Secondly I want to thank all of you who patiently waited for this chapter I know two months can be a long time waiting for an update. But most of all I wanna thank all of you who favorited, followed and reviewed this story you all are awesome and hopefully you enjoy this chapter as much as the last chapter, so without further ado enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Steins;gate or its characters this is purely for fun

---

December 21, 2012 1:48:31 PM EST

"So what was with all that Hououin Kyouma stuff?"

"You will soon learn all the necessary details in due time assistant."

"Who said I wanted to stick around to find out? And why do you keep calling me your assistant!"

The air was chilly with a slight breeze that pushed the temperature from cool to cold, almost a bit too chilly to be driving a convertible with a light jacket on, but after years upon years of living from one frigid place to the next she didn't really mind. Afterall people who grew up in cold places tend to be more resilient to the low temperatures and the same could be said about those who grew up in the heat. It was all relative really whether the weather was too cold or too hot, but what wasn't was the type of day it was.

It was an undeniably gloomy day where the clouds hung low to the ground and the sky was a deep charcoal grey with dashes of silver accenting the edges of those clouds giving the overall atmosphere a rather depressing icy tone. Ironic considering what was happening today, if she didn't know better she would have said it was a foreshadowing of what was to happen but that was just superficial superstitions. She had better things to worry about than some stupid clouds or the weather.

"You have much to learn, Christina."

"My name's not Christina so stop calling me that! Jeez, now I'm thinking you are just some crazy pervert."

But even then it was ironic that today was the polar opposite of that day. Today was cold, gloomy, and cloudy. That day was hot, cheerful and sunny.

"Ahh. But who agreed to have a stroll and a meal?"

"That was before I knew you were such a weirdo."

"Is that anyway an assistant should talk to their superior? Or better yet her lifesaver?"

Okabe was an interesting person, but it didn't take a genius to figure that out. He was eccentric, unpredictable and most of all annoying. It's a wonder why she even put up with him when she finally met him. Well she knew why, it was an euphoric experience when she finally laid eyes on him, considering he had saved her life and all she wanted to do was personally thank him, but that ecstasy filled encounter quickly went up in smoke after the first few minutes they spent together. While he seemed as ecstatic to see her as she was to see him their greetings and formalities soon blew over leaving a conversation that needed to happen. In that instant his smile and overall delighted mood dissapeared being replaced by a look of sadness for a split second before his Hououin Kyouma act took over.

"Like I would ever wanna be your assistant! I can't believe the person I owe my life to is a total idiot."

"I'll have you know my brain rivals the great Issac Newton!"

"Sure, sure. I bet you'll die a virgin like him too."

It was an infuriating experience, but at the sametime it was a familiar one. Now she knew exactly why, but at the time she was none the wiser.

"Typical of my perverted assistant to think of such things."

"You brought it up and if anyone's the pervert it's you!"

Still even then before she knew of worldlines and time travel it felt...comforting.

"...Hahahahahah!"

And perhaps that's why when out of no where, when he paused for a few seconds before laughing a genuine hearty laugh...

"...heh...hehah."

...that her anger and annoyance felt like a thing of the past and she found herself chuckling along side him before the two just stared at one another while small warm smiles graced both of their faces.

" I...you know...I'm not good at these sorta of things."

"I wonder what gave it away."

Kurisu once heard from her mother a smile is worth a thousand tears and in that moment she finally understood what she meant.

Okabe was an idiot.

But he was her idiot.

---

Chapter 2: Alone, but not for long

December 21, 2012 10:15:22

"Shirt?"

"..."

"Underwear?"

"..."

"Deodorant?"

"..."

"C'mon Rintaro, are you still mad about earlier? I didn't know you were listening and that lady was really pushy you know. Plus she's the one who said pregnant not me."

"I'm not mad." And it was true Okabe wasn't mad in fact to put it bluntly there were many other things happening right now to just be mad about that particular event. For context, he was at some fast food restaurant in the airport, sitting down dead center in one of its table with a hamburger in hand, sandwiched between Mayuri to his left and Daru on his right while flanking them and rounding out the edges of the table were Faris to the left and Ruka to the right. Across him were his parents along with Moeka who was to the right of his father and next to Faris while his mom was to his father's left next to Ruka. Now with that being said back to the point he was trying to make in he wasn't exactly mad, just with everything that was happening here and what was gonna happen, there really wasn't one emotion he could definitely say he was feeling.

"Well if you're not mad I hope you packed your deodorant."

"Mom." And of course to prevent him from delving deeper into all those emotions was his mother. While she may have not seemed like it, she was just as anxious about his trip as he was, though undoubtedly for vastly different reasons. Just his mom tended to express her worry by talking and any topic was fair game regardless of who was there to hear.

"I'm sorry it's just real noticable when you forget to put it on." His mom matter-of-factly stated much to Okabe's embarrassment and not helping was Daru's distinct snicker assaulting his ear.

"T-that was in middle school!" Okabe unceremoniously and quickly cried out which sounded more like a squeal then a rebuttal which was soon followed up by Faris, who flat out giggled much to his chagrin making Okabe quickly glare at her.

"But Okarin remember that time you forgot to put deodorant for a whole week and the lab smelled like cheese! Mayushii remembers!" Mayuri suddenly jumped in smiling ear to ear garnering Okabe's attention who immediately met her gaze.

Of course these kinda exchanges weren't uncommon today, usually it went down when his mom said something, usually something embarrassing, followed by a comment from a lab member and then rinse and repeat. It was a clash of two vastly different aspects of his life and the only reason why his parents and fellow lab members were even in the same building was because this was supposedly his big sendoff as he embarked on his journey overseas and to Kurisu. And if the goal was to make it memorable they were accomplishing that for all the wrong reasons.

"I already explained that! We had to ration supplies for continued existence of the lab!" Okabe exasperated while he slumped back down on the table and buried his face in his hands while Mayuri gave a cutesy giggle.

This was suppose to be a celebration of sorts, but it felt more like a humiliation party and he was the guest of honor.

"Oh yeah Mayushii remembers! That's when you decided to buy that replica bomb-thingy-box! The Instant hum-berflyerright?" Mayuri excitedly exclaimed as she made an outline of the future gadget with her fingers, but Okabe never noticed as his face was too busy being smashed against his palms.

"Instant humidifier." But neverless Okabe was quick to correct her slip up as Mayuri bobbed her head up and down while she answered back with.

"Uh-huh! That thingy!"

"You bought a replica bomb?" And not missing a beat his mom quickly responded to that tidbit of information shaking her head, but before Okabe could refute her she began speaking her voice draped with disappointment. "I know it's not my place but you should spend your money more wisely. Like on a new jacket. That white one you always wear is too big for you, look it almost drags on the floor. You should-"

"It's a lab coat of extraordinary power, ~nyan!" Without hesitation and without warning Faris quickly cut off his mom mid sentence before she dramatically stood up from her seat whilst doing some ridiculous pose, going into her own little chunni world she explained. "Kyouma told me long ago within the lore of mad scientist only the most diabolical and evil mad scientist can ever don the Smaba-sah, ~nyan. And after asking Faris for assistance we trained fiercely for four years across the world from the frigid Himalayan mountains to the thick mythical rain forest of the Amazon, overcoming all matter of challenges and setbacks, ~nyan. But in the end Kyouma was finally able to achieve the title of a true mad scientist and finally be able to don the samba-sah,~nyan! With it Kyouma became the greatest mad scientist whose ever lived where his goal is to defeat their sworn enemies the organization and obtain world domination, ~nyan!"

His mom...his mom looked liked how you would expect a middle aged woman to look like if a girl wearing cat ears, a maid outfit and claiming to be the queen of all cats blurted some full blown chunni fantasy. And that is to say she looked visibly, physically and emotionally confused.

But that didn't do Faris justice. Faris was a very interesting girl, the kind where you either instantly fall head over heels for like Daru (well more like become obsessed with) or you write her off as some crazy person. There really wasn't any inbetween and what really cemented Okabe's point were his parents. As expected his mom was of the latter while his dad... disturbingly he might add was of the former. While he was no where near Daru's infatuation the amount of attention he gave to Faris was worrisome, the man was literally gawking at Faris right now just like everytime she spoke since he met her. It was to the point that his mother gave icy glares to his father whenever his attention became too prevalent and right now was no different.

"I...I bet he did." And to no one's surprise his mom replied back her tone more suitable for a toddler than a girl who owned half of Akihabara, but Faris either didn't mind or notice as she simply smiled and nodded triumphantly before taking her seat. Though once she was seated Okabe's mom continued speaking as if those twenty seconds never happened. "Now Rintaro are you going to wear that to see this girl of yours? You should have worn the clothes I took you last night."

Upon hearing those words Okabe tensed up as he quickly looked at his mother uneasily. The clothes in question were his ensemble from last night, the same ensemble that he learned the truth about his little trip.

Sure his trip to New York essentially boiled down to a giant prank setup by some bored college professor, which was pretty bad in itself, what really ate at him was the fact they didn't know the truth about what had really transpired. From his parents to Moeka, none were the wiser that this entire ordeal wasn't... genuine.

It was for that reason his farewell had been so quiet and to an extent miserable. While he was plenty anxious about going to see Kurisu in America the new sinking feeling he had in his gut had nothing to do with her. He was scared of what they might think. Scared of what they might do. But mostly scared of what she might feel, if they found out the truth. From his parents to Daru it didn't matter what they did or said it would be like anytime they made fun of him or scolded him, but Mayuri was a different story. Sure she would say something kind and endearing, but her eyes from yesterday told him enough. That brief moment of vulnerability she showed yesterday wasn't like her and the more he thought of it the more it gnawed at him.

Maybe she was sad.

Maybe she was mad.

Maybe she was hurt.

Maybe she wasn't any of those and he was overthinking it.

But regardless what he saw is what he saw and if she had that look when she thought Kurisu, a person who she considered a close friend, had invited him to New York how would she look if she found out he was going to New York because of some stupid prank? How would she feel that Kurisu initially didn't want him in New York with her?

But then again maybe he was over-analyzing it.

"But Kurisu-chan likes Okarin in his lab coat." And taking him out of his musing was Mayuri with her bubbly statement while she was once again smiling ear to ear. In that brief moment Okabe's tense demeanor softened a bit as Mayuri's statement brought forth a pleasant memory of him and his assistant posing in their lab coats when no one was around.

"Oh she does?" Okabe's mom quickly replied her tone draped with intrigue quickly tensing Okabe back up.

"Uh-huh! When Kurisu was in the lab she and Okarin would wear matching lab coats all the time! Sometimes when they thought no one was listening they would see who was the better mad scientist and laugh at each other like this Mu-hehaheh!" Mayuri cheerfully reenacted doing her best diabolical laugh and mad scientist pose (which accidentally slapped Okabe in the face).

Yup that was just like Mayuri to say something so pleasant and nice to unintentionally undo all that with such a careless statement. What she said earlier brought forth relaxing memories of his assistant and their time together, but what she said next quickly turned those happy thoughts into pure horror and embarrassment.

Mayuri should have only known about wearing matching lab coats not the laugh off or posing!

The thing is they only did that once, during Kurisu's last visit to Japan when one day, while it was just the two of them in the lab, they got into a little spat. It wasn't serious or anything, but whatever it was it quickly devolved into a 'who did what best' kind of argument. Obviously during the course of their petty argument Okabe had done his signature mad scientist laugh and Kurisu characteristically exclaimed he sucked at doing maniacal laughter and when he fired back saying she couldn't do any better she shockingly retorted with a laugh of her own. From there it went back and forth neither relenting on who had the best evil laugh that eventually turned into who did the best mad scientist impression. Naturally he won of course, but Kurisu was a feisty one that wouldn't concede and the only reason their 'debate' ended was because they heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

As it turned out it was Daru and Mayuri, but neither commented or said anything about them laughing or yelling so they firgured they dodged a bullet, but with this new revelation apparently that wasn't the case.

Just the thought Mayuri was at worst standing outside the hallway listening to them having a stupid mad scientist laugh-off or at best just catching a glimpse of it immediately turned Okabe's face a deep shade of red while his eyes shifted erratically trying to avoid everyone seated in the table before they unceremoniously crossed paths with his fathers' who once he noticed gave a smug smirk at his son's expense.

"I'd bet she'll like it better with just the lab coat on." Daru muttered loud enough where only Okabe and Ruka could hear him garnering a glare from Okabe and a shocked gasp from Ruka who quickly flushed pink as his eyes quickly darted to Okabe then back to the floor. "Oh yeah, Yuki told me to tell you she wishes you the best and to tell Makise-shi next time she visits Japan she would like to meet her and hopefully try on some cosplay with her. Oh and she's sorry she couldn't make it."

Not wasting anytime Daru quickly added the last part nonchalantly before he quickly turned his attention to his third Big Mak taking a huge bite from from it.

Okabe could have dwelled on what Daru had said first, but instead a small smile found itself on his face instead as he simply said, "Thanks."

Sure Daru's earlier statement was riddled with his usual perverteness, but at least the latter part was the first thing that resembled something normal since they first arrived in the airport.

To say today was an adventure would be an understatement. Okabe had previously assumed, as it was planned, his parents and fellow lab members would see him off at the train station and he would make his way to the airport by himself, but obviously that wasn't the case. As it turned out at five in the morning he received a call from Faris who personally saw to it that everyone got chauffeured to the airport and have a farewell dinner in it. It was a nice gesture and one he greatly appreciated, but God was it tortuous eating in an airport with both his fellow lab members and his parents together.

And the prestigious restaurant Faris decided to have his farewell dinner at? Why at the world famous MkDonalds located about ten meters away from his terminals gate. And her reasoning for choosing this over a free complementary meal at May queens?

'To get accustomed to the American diet,~nyan' which she explained consisted of 'Fastfood, steak, hotdogs, hamburgers, frozen pizza and baseball, ~nyan' Of course whether she was being serious about baseball being edible in America was debatable, what wasn't debatable was that exchange was the first time his parents had ever laid eyes upon Faris and really all of the lab members at once and of course interacted with them. While his parents knew Mayrui and knew who Daru was for Moeka, Ruka and Faris they all had to be introduced to his parents. Out of everyone surprisingly Moeka's was the least awkward and to put in perspective she had greeted his parents with an email...after the fact she emailed Okabe asking for their email address so she can email them. Ruka's introduction on the surface level wasn't as awkward but well it went about the same as with everyone who was introduced to him and that is to say they called him a stunningly beautiful girl, well his mother said beautiful his father added stunningly and somehow either out of embarrassment or shyness Ruka never corrected them.

And of course there was Faris.

Faris introduced herself the only way Faris could and that was... well like this, "Who am I? You really wanna know? My story isn't for the faint of heart, ~nyan. If someone told you I was just the queen of all cats and Moe they were wrong, ~nyan. I am more than that. I have a special power that comes with great responsibility, powers that I must use to destroy evil and evil doers, protect the ones I love and save the world, ~nyan. But more importantly I am Lab member 007 of the future gadget laboratory and Hououin Kyouma's most trusted ally! So you ask who I am, ~nyan? I am Faris, ~nyan²!"

His parents couldn't have had vastly different reactions if they tried. His mother looked like if she walked into a mental hospital and had a cup of tea with a patient there while his father... his father was smiling as wide as humanly possible. That raised several questions about his father that he didn't want to know the answer to. But while that was embarrassing his mother quickly but curiously asked how she met Okabe which led... well to this.

"Kyouma and Faris's souls had been lovers thousands and thousands of years ago, ~nyan. Fighting evil and the sort to our dying breathes, but in a night of passion before our untimely demise our souls reached the pinnacle of devotion to one another, ~nyan. So much so when we reincarnated into our next lives our souls found each other and since then we are always destined to find one another no matter what, ~nyan. It's a bond and desire that only Faris and Kyouma understand, but if you like you can call it destiny, ~nyan. Thus, just like how our previous lives once did as lovers, together we vanquish evil and fight the organization while saving the world together, ~nyan!"

While Okabe could have done without the 'lovers' part he at least knew it was part of Faris's shtick and it meant nothing beyond her usual wackiness, but his parents... they...they kind of took it out of context. They looked at Faris with horror, well mainly his mom, his dad... his dad looked conflicted and once again Okabe did not want to know what was going on in his head. It was also around that time when Faris turned to Okabe and asked rather seriously while pointing at his parents.

"Oh...their not mad scientist too, ~nyan?"

No...no they were not.

"Oh is this Yuki another one of your friends?" And bringing him back to the present was his mom who not surprisingly inquired about Yuki, which of course was followed by a remark by his father.

"Wow, Rintaro just how many girl friends you got, haha!?" His father half jokingly, half seriously asked which would have been pretty embarrassing in itself, but in front of everyone Okabe's face burst into an uncontrollable blaze before he instinctively glanced to see his lab members reactions. Mayuri began counting with her fingers cheerfully, Ruka choked on nothing before flushing into an incomprehensible stuttering mess going on about how he didn't see Kyouma like that, Moeka hid behind her phone while a tinge of pink graced her cheeks, Faris began laughing uncontrollably and Daru unexpectedly smirked.

"Ah, it's time that this BADA55 show who's really in charge." Just as the words left his mouth Daru dramatically whipped out his phone from his pocket. From there he turned on the screen, touched a few buttons and nearly smudged the screen into Okabe's face. On that screen was none other then Yuki in a cosplay showing off her backside in the shortest skirt possible and tightest crop top imaginable but before Okabe could say anything Daru made his way over to his parents side with the smuggest smirk possible, while Okabe could only watch knowing where this was going. Apparently once Daru had simmered down from yesterday he took a page out of Okabe's book and decided to back up his claim with photo evidence and as he showed his parents his phone he said, "This is Yuki-tan, my 3-D girlfriend, note how she not only is she just as moe as Faris, she has a figure akin to Moeka, a sweet, but not sickening sweet personality like Mayuri, smarter then your average girl, but not an insufferable genius like Kurisu and though admittedly not as graceful as Ruka, she is the perfect 3-D and she is my 3-D girlfriend."

"Oh 3-D... like she's from a video game? Anime?" His father responded with a smile, but it fell along with Daru's previously misplaced pride as Daru just froze at his father's words and the table fell into an audible silence.

With his head slumping low and looking like his soul had been viciously ripped out by death itself Daru muttered the only reasonable thing one could do in that situation,"I want to load my previous save."

Feeling bad and slightly obligated Okabe bit the bullet and tried to ease the awkward situation accidentally created by his father so he cleared his throat and flatly stated, "She's a real person dad."

"What?"

"She's... real, like she's an actual person."

"What? She's his girlfriend?!" Okabe simply nodded which prompted his father to immediately snap his head at Daru then back to Okabe. "No way! You're screwing with me this fat-er...soda! I er-meant yeah hey err-I meant,umm good-I uh hey Rintaro did-did uhh- did -I'm going to the restroom." And just like that the awkwardness in air had swelled to lethal levels as his father immediately bolted to the bathroom, but not before kicking an already down Daru with his careless words. Obviously his father spoke what came to mind and while he was sure Daru was more then aware of the fact Yuki was way out of his league even Okabe felt a little uncomfortable when the words slipped from his father's mouth. As for Daru he gingerly made his way back to his seat next to Okabe with his pride in tatters and a visible hurt spread across face.

"Why do I even try." Daru muttered to no one as he sat back on his chair next to Okabe. Immediately Mayuri reached over Okabe and patted Daru on the shoulder which somewhat brought a smile to Daru as he turned his head to Mayuri and said,"Thanks Mayshuii, you-"

"So, you guys know Kurisu right? What kind of girl is she?"

"Oooo Mayushii first!" Mayuri suddenly exclaimed as she immediately stopped comforting Daru and began waving her hand above her head eagerly making Daru sink back even further. And of course instead of apologizing for his father his mom had to bring up Kurisu. In fact he wasn't even offended, at this point it was almost comical.

But Okabe did have a soul so being the friend he was to Daru he began to try and stop his mom, "Mom-"

"Kuuy~nyan? She's a wonderful assistant to Hououin Kyouma, ~nyan but is too Tsun-Tsun." Faris immediately responded cutting Okabe mid sentence prompting him to facepalm. He was gonna ask his mom to apologize, but apparently his lab members thought otherwise as before he knew it Ruka began speaking.

"S-she's really smart and pretty and Oka-Kyouma gets along with her. Even though they always argue they just don't like to admit they act exactly like one another." Ruka had said with an earnest smile with his finger taping his chin.

"Hey-"

"Hey! Mayushii raised her hand first!" Mayuri cried out cutting off Okabe's protest, but before he could start again a familiar vibration found it's way to his phone. Not wasting time he immediately pulled out his phone and lo and behold he had a message from Moeka. He wasn't gonna dignify this! He was gonna stop this he was- She has red hair

Out of everything Moeka could say she said that!?

There were still many things about Moeka that shocked or surprised him. While he was use to her texting every response he was still subjugated to utter bewilderment at what some of those responses said. Reactively Okabe snapped his head straight at Moeka confusion and disappointment written all over his face before she timidly and unexpectedly said, "They pretty much said everything."

"Can Mayushii talk?"

"Yes Mayuri go ahead, what do you think about Kurisu?" His mom sweetly said to Mayuri making her giggle excitedly before she placed a finger on her chin and thought hard about what to say before she quickly pointed up and exclaimed cheerfully.

"Well, Mayushii and Kurisu-chan get along and we have a lot of fun when she's in the lab! Okarin and Kurisu-chan always pretend to argue, but Mayushii knows they're just having fun with each other even if they don't admit it."

"You just copied Ruka!" Okabe proclaimed while Mayuri turned to him smiling before shrugging innocently.

"So Rintaro, is that your idea of dating?" His mother posed blindsiding Okabe completely.

"W-we're not dating! We just-"

"Like to make out!" Daru suddenly proclaimed as he stared viciously at Okabe and took a bite out of his fourth big mak. "Okarin and Makise-shi kiss and do all that mushy normie stuff! It's a wonder how they never drowned with all the saliva they put in each others mouth!"

"Objection!" Okabe proclaimed beet red once again as he stood up from his seat and glared at Daru. Their eyes met just as swiftly neither relenting as Okabe soon realized Daru was getting payback by unleashing a can of worms with that statement. Hopefully if-

"Yup! Like that time Kuuy~nan and Kyouma had that secret meeting alone in the desert, ~nyan! There was a lingering scent that Faris picked up on as those two came back, one that reeked of sweat and embarrassment!" Faris a little too enthusiastic exclaimed catching Okabe off guard turning him to a stuttering mess trying to ease the situation, but like so many things today it proved futile as Mayuri began speaking.

"Oh yeah! When Okarin and Kurisu-chan all of a sudden left without saying why, then at night they came back to the motel together! Mayushii remembers they were all sweaty and tired!" Mayuri smiled fondly as she recalled the event, but for Okabe it was something straight of a horror show. While everything they said was true they never took to consideration the desert was brutal. Even in the waning hours of daylight it was remarkably hot and after their kiss the time they spent together afterwards waiting for a passerby and eventually a tow truck was either spent arguing or in awkward silence. But you wouldn't know that hell they they made it sound was like they had gone on some secret sexcapade in the middle of no where!

Or at the very least he was sure his mom would undoubtedly take it that way.

So right now Okabe could only do one thing.

It wasn't protest or deny such accusations, but prop his elbows on the table and bury his face in his hands hoping his terminal gate could open sooner.

"Hey-umm guys I think we're embarrassing Okabe." Ruka sympathetically said but it fell on deaf ears as Faris began laughing.

"What's so embarrassing, ~nyan? Obviously Kyouma and Kuuy~nan broke the golden rule placed onto all mad scientist which states, ~nyan, 'Thy assistant and fellow followers shall remain platonic in nature or the title of mad scientist shall be revoked!" Just as Faris spoke she strutted to Okabe, who still had his face buried in his hands wishing this nightmare could be over, where she suddenly embraced him and exclaimed. "But Kyouma's love for Kuuy~nan was too strong, ~nyan! And when he had to choose between being a mad scientist or love, he chose love, ~nyan! Isn't that romantic!"

Okabe, with Faris still wrapped around him, found himself hesitantly looking up only to be met by the sympathetic looks Ruka and Moeka were giving him, but before he could pity himself more his mom expectedly spoke up.

"So... what's this story about 'having a secret meeting in the desert'?"

Just as the words processed in Okabe's mind he immediately grabbed a fistful of hair and dramatically stood up garnering everyone's attention as he brazenly exclaimed, "There was no secret meeting! I thought I saw an old friend where we met up in some store on the highway and when I was coming back Kurisu had came looking for me! Nothing happened!"

"That's not what I heard, ~nyan!" Suddenly Faris spoke shaking her head as she continued cutely, "I heard you two had a heartfelt talk as you peered into each others eyes pouring your hearts into one another, ~nyan. All in the backdrop of a romantic setting sun, before sealing it with a kiss, ~nyan."

"W-how do you know that?!" Okabe gasp as he initially thought Faris had just been her usual self making up all those allegations, but apparently she knew almost exactly what had transpired.

"A girl has her sources, ~nyan." Faris teased as she winked at Okabe who was now just gaping at the girl before he clenched his fist and mused.

"Damn Yuki!" It might have seemed odd to be damning her, but she had to be the one to tell Faris. There was no other person within miles that knew him or in Yuki's case knew of him at that point in time, she might had driven back realizing he had no way of going back or perhaps she-

"What does Yuki have to do with this?" Suddenly Daru inquired with a sharpness in his voice that didn't go unnoticed by everyone seated in the table.

Turning to Daru Okabe opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Mayuri as she gleefully explained.

"Oh I know! Yuki told me she met Okarin that day. She said he kinda crept her out when he followed her with a taxi all the way into the desert, but after they had a nice talk she said Okarin was actually a pretty sweet guy." As Mayuri finished a smile graced itself on her face, but the same could not be said about Daru.

Grabbing his face in utter defeat Daru managed say, "Can this day get any worse!"

"What's wrong?" Okabe plainly asked as Daru didn't even have the energy to glare at him.

"You were with Makise-shi and Yuki all alone in the desert! That's the problem!" Daru cried out as Okabe just stared dumbfounded at Daru.

"Nothing happened. I mistook her for someone and then she left." Okabe simply answered but apparently that wasn't enough to satisfy Daru.

"I know your too dense to realize these kind of things." He groaned continuing with, "But I know how it works with you Okarin. It's apparent any girl who spends more than five minutes with you wants to have your babies! If Yuki met you almost a year before I did how do I know she isn't just using me to get closer to you!"

Flabbergasted Okabe facepalmed as he said, "I seriously doubt that."

"Of course you would say that!" Daru exclaimed but it lacked the sting and vigor his earlier accusations did as it was apparent Daru had been physically and emotionally defeated. "Maybe she didn't come because she's too busy crying that you're gonna have sexy time with a another woman!"

That was unexpected.

"Daru... I-I think... you need to go to sleep and rethink a lot of your life." Okabe calmly responded with. Even for Daru's standards this was getting out of hand. Okabe reasoned it must of been from the accumulation of everything that had happened in the past few days that Daru was an emotional wreck. Perhaps he was more stressed out about his parents meeting Yuki, especially given the fact what they said, then he was letting on and the added fact he was constantly being kicked down a peg seemingly everyday since he told his parents about Yuki couldn't have help. Okabe genuinely felt bad for him and he knew if the roles were reversed and Kurisu wanted to meet his parents he would probably be as unstable as Daru was.

Speaking of that he wondered how it would go down if he met Kurisu's mother, obviously he already met her father and had no plans of ever seeing him again. As for Kurisu's mom he knew she lived in America for the simple reason she wanted to be as far away from Dr. Nakabachi when they divorced and he also knew she lived in a place called Connecticut, which obviously wasn't where Kurisu lived. But if Okabe was certain about one thing it was if Kurisu's mom was anything like Kurisu it would probably be an experience he would like to prolong from happening anytime soon.

"I... I think you're right." And back to reality Daru surprisingly answered as he laid his head down on table and closed his eyes while everyone from Okabe to Ruka were just staring at Daru unsure of what to say or do.

"I hope he doesn't fall asleep." Except his mom, of course. "So there were actually two girls on this secret desert meeting? And more importantly the other girl wasn't Mayuri?"

"Mom-"

"Terminal Gate C is about to begin boarding in thirty minutes. All passengers headed for New York, New York please begin making your way towards Terminal Gate C. All passengers headed for New York, New York, please begin making your way towards Terminal Gate C, Thank you."

---

December 21, 2012 1:57:55 PM EST

Oxygen.

Shakes.

That's all that matter.

Those two words rang feverishly in his head and it was those two words that plagued him physically. His breath had become staggered and choppy once he finally arrived in the airport in New York, to the point he could actually hear himself huffing and puffing, every breath feeling a few air molecules too short to properly inflate his lungs and pump his brain with adequate blood. It was tortuous by itself and with the added bonus of his anxiety, while intense before paled in comparison to now, it was unbearable. His body had been assaulted with tremors that resonated deep within his chest, no doubt caused by how nervous he was, sending shockwaves throughout his entire body. It felt as if every cell in his body had froze over and his nerves were trying to stimulate them back to life.

But...

...It wasn't necessarily bad...

...Right now it felt more...

...Strange than bad.

That was the only way he describe it. The airport had a feeling to it that was different from anything he had ever experienced in his whole life. It was spotless clean, but at the same time it felt used. He was rubbing shoulder to shoulder among strangers, but at same time he never felt so alone. He was nervous, but at the sametime he was excited.

Yes he was excited.

While his knees felt like buckling after each step and his breath became increasingly staggered...

...He was excited.

While he couldn't help but tremble...

...He was excited.

Last night Kurisu and him had gone over everything once he decided he would be embarking on this voyage, from the specifics on the ticket to the time he would land to the day he would leave, everything they needed to know was gone over with a surgeon's precision, now all they had to do was execute it.

But once again actions were easier said then done. They had agreed that once he got off the plane he would call her immediately...but the thing was...

He was still nervous.

The butterflies in his stomach were almost unbearable, there was a part of him that wanted to get back on that airplane and tell her he got sick and to forget about the whole thing. The anxiety he was experiencing right now was crippling.

He actually felt sick. He felt lightheaded. He felt like he was going to throw up. The thought of seeing her was exciting, there was no doubt about that, but it was just as terrifying. He wanted to hold her but as that came closer and closer to becoming a reality he felt like his knees were gonna give out and collapse. As it was his breathing was erratic, but his body wanted more air then he could supply, so his lungs kept pushing and pushing to the point even his chest was feeling sore. And that sensation only intensified as the door to New York was only a few steps away.

The entire time he had been mindlessly walking through the airport his eyes focused on that door. There was nothing special about that door it was a simple glass sliding door one you might see at any grocery store, but right now it felt intimidating pristine. Like a door to a journey that would forever change his life and those around him. It felt... like a choice.

A choice between the reality he had come to know and a reality that was unforeseen. And that choice was now only a few steps away.

...Perhaps...

...Perhaps it was-

Actually perhaps his anxiety and melodramatic musing were overblown as before him, to his pleasant surprise, Kurisu was actually there.

Okabe always pictured their reunion being pulled straight outta the movies where once he would see her again time would stop, the birds would sing beautifully and a golden light would slice through the clouds bathing her in its golden rays, but instead he was treated to the unflattering sight of Kurisu leaning on her purple car obliviously looking the other way picking her nose inconspicuously while yawning a very unflattering yawn. If this were any other time and place perhaps he would have immediately hurled a jab at her unflattering appearance but...

...He couldn't...

...Even with all the ammo he would ever need to make fun of her for a lifetime...

"Ku..." He couldn't even say her name.

All he could do was dumbly make his way toward her as his mind frantically searched for something to say...

"H-..."

Whether it was the shuffle of his feet or his utterances that came off as whispers lost to the wind she had turned her head. Her eyes widened unbelievably wide while her mouth soon followed with soundless motions before a faint word escaped her mouth, "Okabe."

It was breathless and it was surreal, in fact his mind might have been playing tricks on him, but either way the pair could only stare at one another as Okabe kept his steady pace towards her while she remained still and upright. As Okabe walked closer and closer he couldn't help but just gape at his assistant. For what was over a year he could actually look at her, he could actually touch her, he could actually...be with her. It was a sensation he had only felt once in his life and that was the first time he had ever laid eyes upon her in this world line. And as they stood arms length away now, in silence unsure of what to do or say, a small tentative smile found it's way onto Okabe.

It was unlike any smile he had ever smiled before and one he never knew he had.

She was beautiful but he had always known that.

She was a genius but he had always known that.

She was breathtaking but he had always known that.

It wasn't until right now in this moment did he realize she was far more than all that combined.

She made him happy.

It was simple and sounded underwhelming, but it was anything but.

His breath had gone from erratic to steady and his knees went from buckling to confident. His anxiety and fear were washed away by her presence.

He wasn't content and he wasn't neutral, he was just happy.

And before he knew it her warmth was intertwined with his.

Whether she was the one who initiated the contact or he was the sensation that it brought was enough to make it irrelevant.

There were no words to describe the emotions that coarse between them as they stood there motionless in front of the airport embracing one another for the first time in over a year. And perhaps they never needed words to understand what they wanted to say to one another in that moment.

---

December 21, 2012, 2:12:38 PM EST

"I'm not taking you out to eat! I'm hungry and I'm stuck with you and that's it! Don't get so full of yourself!"

Oh how he had many words to describe the feeling he had now.

"If two people are eating together and one is paying for the food than by definition YOU ARE TAKING ME OUT TO EAT Christina!" The words rang loudly in the car as he tried shoving two fingers in front of her face before she promptly batted them away.

"If you wanna die keep doing that! And who says I'm buying something for you to eat!? I don't recall ever saying I was buying anything for you!" Kurisu spat out with enough venom to make a king cobra blush.

But undeterred Okabe pinched the bridge of his nose shaking his head in disgust before exclaiming, "You clearly said let's eat, unless you would have me believe my assistant is already suffering from dementia!"

As the words left Okabe's mouth Kurisu's grip on her steering wheel tightened as she snapped her head at Okabe before furiously gritting out, "Fine fine! Since I can't kick you out because you'd die wondering the streets alone, let's eat together! Are you happy!?"

"I would be if you showed me more respect. Honestly that's no way how an assistant should speak to a mad scientist."

"Gosh you're worse than a little kid, y'know that?" Kurisu viciously muttered turning her head to the driver side window while they stopped at a red light. The two fell into a tense silence for a brief pause until, still facing away and towards the window, Kurisu quietly spoke up, "What about we get some ice cream?"

The question posed came out more like a whisper taking Okabe a second longer to respond as he thought it over making sure what he heard is what she said as he softly replied, "Ice cream?"

The pair fell into another brief silence as they took their time to look at one another waiting for Kurisu to clarify her earlier statement.

"Yeah...like milkshakes there's this place right around the corner and I was thinking..." It didn't take long for Okabe to raise an eyebrow in interest at her surprising offer which once Kurisu noticed quickly blushed and exclaimed. "N-NOT that I was planning this before you came or anything! I-I barely thought about it and I was craving ice cream so...so..! I wasn't thinking of this as a date...or anything like that if that's what you're thinking! So stop looking at me weird!"

"Oh please, your blush is practically melting the frost off that car parked right there." Okabe flatly quipped pointing at the car across the street.

"I-you-shut up and let me drive!" Kurisu sheepishly proclaimed with a huff and a pout before the light turned green and her attention immediately went to the street as they were once again on the move. Wasting no time Okabe decided to drop the teasing, still tired from the flight, and instead tried to find a comfortable position to relax on his seat. Of course not before sneaking a glance at his assistant though, who had the faintest hint of a smile teasing the corners of her mouth. Noticing that Okabe grinned a crooked but content smile as he allowed his mind to finally relax and take in his new reality as he mindlessly gazed out his window and into the foreign land.

New York was much more lively than he had anticipated as evident by the fact being on the streets in a car was actually slower than walking, literally passerbys on the sidewalk were outpacing them by a large margin. It was ridiculous and he would have preferred walking or taking the subway, but she had brought her car so those two options were immediately thrown out the window. And besides it wasn't like if he did get in a train that he would have the slightest clue where to go. Speaking about cars another thing that stuck out to him, even in his first visit to the states, were the cars. They were much bigger than they were back home and right now in such a cramped area it was only more noticeable. From towering trucks to elongated cars they were humongous and just watching how some people were able to even maneuver them in such tight and cluttered spaces actually made Okabe a little antsy. Hell that even applied to Kurisu, though in fairness Okabe would have been on edge with her driving anywhere.

But besides that the weather was similar to that of Akihabara around this time of the year and that was to say cold. It wasn't unbearable and it wasn't freezing like how some people made it out to be, though with all that being said that isn't to say he wasn't cold. A sensation no doubt due to the fact he decided to wear just his lab coat and a thin white long sleeve shirt underneath said lab coat. He contemplated wearing the black suit his mom had brought him last night, which was actually in his luggage right now, but instead chose an ensemble that closely resembled his usual getup which was his lab coat, a white t-shirt and his khakis. With the expectation of the long sleeve shirt everything was virtually the same. And if he was being honest, if he was gonna be around Kurisu he felt more comfortable wearing the familiar outfit than anything else and judging by her own appearance she had a similar opinion. Her jacket, while not the same, was very similar to the one she always wore expect a little thicker and a bit more fancy with a quasi belt hanging to its sides, her button up shirt was replaced with a powder blue turtle neck while her lower half remained the same as it always did, black tights underneath black short shorts.

Truly Kurisu looked adorable in that turtleneck, but Okabe was never ever gonna admit it outside of his head, so back to his original point. In the airport that ensemble seemed like a good idea, he was comfortable and to an extent cozy, but that was with a fully functional and effective heater, outside and especially in Kurisu's convertible, even with the top up and a barely functional heater he was cold.

The heater was literally teasing him where it made enough of a difference to say it was working, but not enough to say it was effectively making a difference. Maybe if the car was a hardtop the heater might had actually work as intended, but unfortunately for him it wasn't. The heater sucked plain and simple and the more he sat still the more he felt his toes were closer to getting amputated then ever before and she had the audacity to want ice cream?

It was nice, but what did this woman think?! Ice cream was reserved for the hot and fun summer days not gloomy and depressing days like this! Was she even aware that if he drank a cup water today it might freeze over before he finished it?! Ok maybe that last part was an exaggeration, but today definitely wasn't a day for the frozen treat. Then again when it came to Makise and food... well...she tried, he just wished her enthusiasm for cooking actually led to edible contraptions and not lethal food poisoning. Nevertheless while he might have disagreed with her desired meal right now, it still made him happy knowing she was trying to make the most of their time together with... well essentially a date.

But how he hated that word.

Date.

It sounded...alien and unlike them, but... it was complicated.

While he loved sparring with his assistant there were times Okabe wanted to say things without having to yell at one another and he was sure she felt the same, but at the sametime it was hard to do just that. In reality a couple (even though they technically weren't dating) shouldn't have had an arguement over going on a date, but with them it felt like heresy. A year ago it was the same way, one word or sentence eventually spiraled the two into lighthearted snarls and jabs, both just disagreeing with one another for the sake of it.

But don't get him wrong, he enjoyed it and, if he was correct to assume she was actually smiling, she enjoyed it just as much, it was just... where did it lead to? As far as he was concerned, besides their reunion earlier, it felt exactly like how it did a year ago and for some reason that bugged him more than he'd like to admit. They had actually kept in contact for the past year and in that year he thought they had opened up a bit more towards one another, but once the ecstasy of their reunion settled, it felt like that year never happened. Those confident words he could always conjure up on the phone were nowhere to be found now, those You're my mad scientist and You're my assistant sounded stupid and corny, and worst of all those simple conversations about nothing went nowhere. Yes he thought about them and yes he tried saying them, but they always either retreated from his tongue or fell into an awkward pit of nothing and it annoyed him.

No annoyed wasn't the word, more like it frustrated him, but what really gnawed at him was he was perfectly fine with it. The desire to be more than what they were now was very much alive in him, but he was in no rush to do anything about it. In a way, just like this trip, he was waiting for her to make the first move and go along with it. That's what happened after the first time she left Japan, that's what happened when he returned from the States after their first trip there and he was sure if he never got trapped in the R-wordline it would have happened a third time. Deep down he knew in this worldline he always waited for her to make the first move whilst he was the one to always gaze at it from a distance.

Hell even when he told her he loved her in the desert that was only because she had tracked him down all the way to the middle of no where and began talking about those precious moments they shared in the other worldlines.

But change was hard, while he enjoyed their spats and nonsensical back and fourths, it always landed on the same question.

Where did it lead to?

It's like if they had settled on the plateau of a mountain even though the top of the mountain was a stone toss away. Sure the plateau had its share of stunning views, the top of the mountain would have breathtaking views.

It was just... it was... confusing.

But it also could have simply been he was over blowing it. They hadn't seen each other in over a year and it wasn't unreasonable to think they were just doing what was most comfortable around one another. It made sense and Okabe was the first to admit he wasn't very good in social situations so it was more than a reasonable possibility, afterall he was still a little nervous and trying not to mess up this whole trip. Maybe they just needed time to get comfortable with the idea of being together again in a... closer capacity.

Or perhaps he shouldn't even worry about those things and just enjoy what was happening right now and think about other things.

Afterall New York was beautiful and a place of many wonders, fitting for someone like her to live in. It was with that thought Okabe slightly turned his head to where he could fully see his assistant. Her eyes were just as focused on the road as they had been when he last looked at her and her hands while not as tight were still grasping the steering wheel firmly. But try as she might she looked a tad bit too small for the large car she was driving almost as if a child was playing in their parents car. It was funny enough for Okabe to smile before he turned his attention back outside. In reality that was about the only thing he could compare her to a child. What she managed to accomplish before twenty was astounding, she had a masters working on a Phd, her career, a good paying one at that, and respect within her field.

Okabe didn't have any of that.

He didn't have have a degree of any kind and he sure as hell didn't have a career. He worked low paying odd jobs and sometimes did part time work at his parents store and outside of his lab members he was a nobody. Life was just as much a blank as it was when he graduated high school, while in that same timespan she was already published in a science magazine and giving seminars to college students. When he thought about it he should have been nowhere near a girl as amazing as she was and in some ways it made him feel...inadequate. She was a neurologist getting paid to give seminars in different countries while attending and working for one of the most prestigious schools in the world, and while they never discussed such things her life was already set.

She accomplished more achievements than most families combined do in their lifetimes and she probably made more money in her twenty years of life than some people do their entire careers. For crying outloud when she traveled she stayed in fancy hotels that touched clouds, when he traveled, which was rare in itself, he stayed in motels that scrapped the dirt. Now Okabe wasn't saying he was poor or hurting and he wasn't saying she could use money as toilet paper all he was saying he lived like any college student. His money went to college and everything that it entailed, while the rest went to his lab, which included rent, their gadgets and food. In comparison colleges paid her to give seminars in their schools. As you could see that was a very big difference. In many ways Kurisu was out of his league...

But still...

She was his willing assistant, even if she never wanted to admit it.

And that was all Okabe needed to know.

And as his gaze once again fell back to her, a small sad smile formed on his lips.

Right now, amidst the grey of concrete and rolling clouds, through the sea of oversized cars and passersbys, despite petty arguments and unfulfilled desires.

She truly looked beautiful.

"What are you looking at pervert!?"

But no matter how much he wanted to tell her.

"I...nothing."

He just couldn't.

"Sure you weren't pervert."

And that fact still bothered him.

---

December 21, 2012, 2:38:48 PM EST

The restaurant was nice, it was small but had a lively atmosphere that smelled like arthouse coffee and donuts. It was an interesting place from the chaulk board with a drawing of a cat sipping coffee to the fact everyone was wearing colorful beanies and matching bowties with suspenders. Literally everyone looked the same or at the very least dressed similarly. Even facial hair wasn't safe as most of the guys there had weirdly stylized beards that were well maintenance while the moustaches curled upward giving the appearance of one of those old timely American villains.

It was odd, but just like looking into the abyss the more Okabe stared the more they stared back. In a sea of weird dressing habits and what could only be described as neo-classical alternative indie rock playing in the background for some reason he felt like the freak. When they entered the establishment everyone turned to look at him, not Kurisu, just him, making him severely uncomfortable. Even after five minutes in the restaurant those unwarranted side glances still persisted to which Okabe reasoned was either because he was Japanese or because he wasn't wearing a bowtie perhaps both.

Nevertheless it could have been worse. They could have been even more eyes to scrutinize him. As it was there was enough people to say it wasn't empty, but there wasn't enough people to say it was anywhere near full. It's capacity could best be described as where one could have a conversation with someone and not be overheard or vice-versa, ironic considering him and Kurisu were in utter silence.

For about the length of time they had been in the establishment neither spoke to each other opting to just look around the restaurant avoiding all possible eye contact. Not even when the lady at the door had guided them to their seats did they say a word, it was more amazing than disappointing in all honesty. Even in their earliest days together in the Alpha world line there were always words between them, whether they were ridiculing each other or trying to firgure out how D-mails worked there was always something. Now the silence spoke for itself.

It's not that Okabe didn't want to say anything rather he didn't know what to say. His mind had gone completely blank while his thoughts constantly pushed for him to say something and start a conversation. Perhaps it was because of his earlier anxiety that prevented him from coming up with anything or maybe it was due to feeling he wasn't exactly wanted in this particular establishment by its patrons and it could have simply been he had nothing to say.

Yeah that last one was total bull.

Okabe had many questions and stories to tell that if he probably said them all it'd take the duration of his stay to finish. And the biggest thing he wanted to say was he wanted food, not sugar. Thirteen hours of flight was not an easy thing on one's stomach, but somehow through his unique sendoff and the fact he was going to see Kurisu, hunger was the least of his worries. But now that his nose and eyes were assaulted with actual food, like pizza and sandwiches, Okabe became keenly aware just how hungry he was. It was maddening, his innards felt like revolting and his mouth felt like a moth seeking fire, he had to get food. Ice cream or milkshakes were nice, but they weren't food. Pudding would have been better, but no they were here for milkshakes which Kurisu explicitly made clear and Okabe trying not to cause any unnecessary problems wasn't gonna fight it... well at least not yet. Hououin Kyouma did not care about ruining Kurisu's little date plan, but Okabe digressed it was kinda cute seeing his assistant on such short notice try to do something kind for a change. It was only obvious this was his welcoming gift and the last thing he wanted to do was upset Kurisu for a variety of reasons and one of them being high on that list was if he had to interact with anyone in this country it was going to be through her.

And that kinda sucked-

"Hello my name is Jenna and- Kurisu nice seeing you here again!" Finally breaking their silence was the waitress named Jenna, who had waltz right besides him without Okabe even noticing, while a gleeful smile bounced off her face noticing Makise. "And who's this?" Apparently also noticing Okabe, she had turned to look at him where her gleeful smile turned to a more intrigued and welcoming one and while Okabe didn't understand half of what she was saying he knew she was asking about him, but before he could even react Kurisu choked on nothing and the waitress's eyes found there way back to her with a more serious, but teasing expression. "I'm surprised Kurisu, I've never seen you with a guy here, especially such a cute one at that, but oh well some girls have all the luck. Here and here, I'll be back to take you're orders and if I may do you want anything to drink?"

And just like that Jenna the waitress was back to being the cheerful perky waitress she introduced herself as, which, judging by her face, Kurisu absolutely hated.

"No thanks." Kurisu curtly replied in English crossing her arms while Okabe just looked at her raising an eyebrow intrigue from both her crisp English and venomous tone.

Smirking now, the waitress nodded towards Okabe saying, "Ok, what about-"

"He doesn't want anything either." Kurisu quickly snapped back, once again in English, cutting off the waitress mid sentence while her glare towards the waitress only intensified. For her part the waitress didn't seem too bothered by it and if it wasn't for the slight crinkle on her brow it would have appeared Jenna was oblivious to the venom coursing through that last sentence. But Okabe could care less about such feminine displays of dominance, right now he was too preoccupied with the menu she had handed them and whether or not they had a Japanese version of it but before he could even ask Kurisu to ask the waitress (something he was gonna have to get use to for the duration of his stay), Jenna had vanished from their table while Kurisu burrowed holes at her back with an icy glare. It was an eye roll worthy display, but Okabe wasn't gonna get mixed up in all the-

"The nerve of some people." Kurisu muttered to Okabe in their native tongue still glaring at the waitress's general direction.

This time however Okabe actually did roll his eyes before nonchalantly saying, "Yes you didn't let me ask if they had a Japanese menu."

"Not me idiot! Her!" Kurisu retorted pointing at the waitress's general direction to which Okabe just sighed.

"The waitress? She seemed nice." Okabe simply stated hoping Kurisu would just drop the whole thing, but judging by the twitch assaulting her eye that wasn't gonna be the case.

"Nice? You think that was nice?" Kurisu spitefully worded to which Okabe just shrugged but before he could change the subject she continued. "Everytime I come here she somehow always takes my order, we don't talk, we don't socialize, we don't even like each other, her saying my name actually made me want to puke. But now that you're here she's acting like we're best friends. Unfreaking believable."

"Face it Christina, the aura of a mad scientist such as my myself has an extraordinary power, which includes, but not limited to, swaying any woman with my mere presence! Seeing you, a fellow woman, be in the presence of the embodiment of the perfect man instantly made her jealous and triggered a primal desire that called out on one of two things, retaliate or assimilate! Judging by her actions I would say her instinct chose the latter and that was to please this perfect specimen, even if this meant being friendly towards a rival, ie you! Of course any mad scientist knows the true path is one of celibacy, to the disappointment of every female, male and everything in between in existence, no matter! Hououin Kyouma has no interest in sex in the slightest!"

"Oh." The above was what Okabe wanted to say, but what he uttered instead was the the result of not being able to spice up such a trival thing. Literally Okabe could care less about Kurisu's seemingly nonsensical gripe with the waitress when there were more pressing matter at hand such as what this piece of lamented paper said! Not some petty feud his assistant had with some waitress, but he digressed truly the only reason Hououin Kyouma wasn't making an appearance was because he didn't want to ruin her carefully planned date or upset her, so he lamely settled for, "I'm gonna be honest I don't understand this menu."

"I know, but we agreed we were gonna get milkshakes so it doesn't matter." Kurisu dismissed with an equally dismissive wave.

What do you mean we agreed Christina! That is what Okabe would have said any other time and any other place, but instead swallowing the urge he settled for, "Ummm, so millshakes? What are we gonna get exactly?"

"I think we should get the 'Blender.'"

"The blender?" That sounded odd, but it didn't sound too bad-

"It's a napoleon milkshake with oreos, chocolate chip cookies, bubblegum, garlic, chile, jalapeno, shrimp, paprika, Doritos and mint leaves."

Okabe immediately took that thought and threw it away, as all he could do was just stare at his assistant in bewilderment trying to mentally keep himself from imagining how that God awful mix tasted like but what she said next made that sound like a five star cuisine. "Or Stardust from Jupiter, which has pixie dust sprinkled on top of a green tea milkshake blended with broccoli, grapefruit, a corn tortilla, bacon and some slices of cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese. Which one do you want?"

Okabe was trying his best not to deflate that pleased look she had on her face explaining his options, but there was no other way to put it. "They both sound disgusting."

"W- their not! They taste good!" Makise proclaimed angrily.

"For Da-zombie! But I'm a human!" Okabe quickly retorted but as Kurisu reeled back in shock morphing into a boiling rage Okabe immediately realized he had crossed a line she constantly made clear wasn't to be crossed so quickly and without much thought he hopelessly tried to defuse the situation with. "Why can't we get something simple like vanilla?"

"That- don't change the subject! You know I hate that nickname and I've told you to stop calling me that!" Kurisu cried out as with one heavy heave pounded the table with a closed fist full of anger nearly knocking the napkin dispenser and seasoning shakers to the side off the table while also catching the attention of the people in the establishment.

The restaurant turned silent as the clatter of silverware and idle talk halted as a plethora of unwarranted eyes turned to the scene unfolding between the two. An uneasiness fell over Okabe feeling the shift of atmosphere in the restaurant where, as if trying to shrink into nonexistence, hunched over closer to the table biting his lip and quietly said, "I didn't mean- listen can't we-"

"Do not change the subject!" Kurisu once again loudly exclaimed which was followed by an even louder silence by their spectators. It was as if the restaurant had fallen into a dead silence that paralyzed everyone in it expect for Okabe and Kurisu who speaking of briefly broke that silence. "You know what that means to me, do you think I like being reminded of it! Huh? I'm waiting Okabe."

Her words sliced through the restaurant like a breeze of frozen air as the tension that resided between them was enough to collapse bridges. There was no way around it and no other way to put it, Okabe landed himself in deep shit. Out of every nickname he called her, Da-zombie had quickly fell out of favor with her for obvious reasons. She had died in front of him and came back alive thus he bestowed the nickname, Da-zombie upon her and she was well aware of the fact. While the memories were vague some part of her could still recall her dying moments and the pain that lived within those last moments, it must have been an indescribable horror to even have a glimpse of your own death, let alone knowing the person responsible for it was right infront of you.

She had every reason to be upset, but at the sametime it's not like he meant it. It's not like he intentionally said it to upset her! She wanted him to eat some disgusting milkshakes he never asked for while never considering what he wanted! She had the audacity to not even ask if he was hungry or would like something else to eat, no they were here because she wanted to be here and they were getting food she wanted! And now because of some slip up she was putting him in the spot infront of a whole restaurant! Did she think because they were speaking a language no else besides them understood that no one was gonna notice her shouting!

What the hell was her problem!

"And I want food! Is that too hard to ask for, huh?!" Okabe exclaimed meeting her intensity before picking up the menu and pointing indiscriminately at a random spot on it.

"Is that what you're gonna say! Then when she comes back order it yourself!" Kurisu spat out while Okabe scowled at the menu and nodded spitefully in agreement.

"I will then!" Okabe shot back as both him and Kurisu simultaneously huffed and crossed their arms defiantly away from one another not caring that almost everyone from the staff to the patrons were trying to either awkwardly resume their meal like nothing happened or were still looking at the pair. But neither cared right in this moment. To put it poetically when Okabe and Kurisu had their arguments the world seemed to melt away and what remained was only the two of them. It could best be describe like the polar opposite of that loving couple who showered each other with sloppy french kisses and dirty words in public, but instead with name calling and shouting.

It never occurred to Okabe till now, but he and Kurisu always argued in restaurants, infront of friends and anywhere you can think of. And somehow people figured they had a thing for one another. It was beyond him why or even how someone could draw that conclusion, but judging by how his lab members perceived their relationship, both in the alpha and this world line, it wasn't too unfathomable to believe others would think the same thing to. Granted at first it must have seemed like they genuinely hated each other in those moments and also must have been super awkward for anyone unfortunately caught in the crossfire, as evident by the silence that plagued this establishment during their outburst, but after a while did people think that's how they got off? Arguing in front of people and insulting one another? Is that what his friends think?!

But right now things were a little different, hell their argument, whilst short, actually felt like a real argument. It had been a while, but that was the first time in a long time he could honestly say him and Kurisu were genuinely upset with one another. But as the dust settled and his anger began subsiding just a bit Okabe realized he should have just apologized. Granted she probably would have still been mad, but at least it wouldn't have spiraled into the mess it did. Now Okabe wasn't saying Kurisu was free of fault she should have known he didn't mean to call her that and she should have controlled her anger better, but nevertheless he couldn't control what she did all he could control was what he did.

It was just... this whole thing... it wasn't like he had hoped or envisioned their long awaited reunion would be like. But what Okabe found most disappointing was, he wasn't surprised one bit about what had transpired. It was...

Masochistic

Out of nowhere that word popped in Okabe's head and of course in Daru's voice. Once Daru had used that word to describe him and Kurisu after Okabe had questioned why him and Yuki showered each other with ridiculous compliments and generally being lovey dubby over the phone. Of course Daru had only called Yuki beautiful that particular call which Daru quickly pointed out. Where he then matter-of-factly contrasted his and Yuki's relationship with Okabe's and Kurisu's. While he used many unsavory terms and hypothetical scenarios the gest of it still remained.

And that was to say Daru claimed him and Kurisu... liked pain which was why they always argue...

...Now it was far fetched but... well the more he thought about it...

...well if that was the case it explained a lot...

...

And this is why Okabe hated tense silence his mind always went to the weirdest places so trying to get all-

"Are you guys ready to order?" And snapping him out of that weird place the waitress had broken their standstill, but that wasn't what garnered Okabe's and Kurisu's attention, no what was really shocking was she had placed a hand on Okabe's shoulder as she arrived.

The tension between Okabe and Kurisu had been snapped and without even looking at Kurisu Okabe knew it had shifted once again back to the waitress.

Slowly looking at the hand then slowly up to meet the waitress's welcoming smile Okabe's face was nothing short of confusion.

It seemed odd at first...

"Yes we are." Kurisu gritted out, making both Okabe and the waitress turn their attention to her, while the anger Kurisu displayed earlier at the waitress returned with vengeance as she continued with. "We would like the 'Urban Cowboy'. Please."

"Oh good choice."

...But then it made sense.

The waitress might have seem bubbly indifferent to the venom that was emitting from Kurisu but it was anything but.

Even before she turned her attention back to Okabe, her hand still firmly placed on his shoulder, and smiled, Okabe figured it out. Turning his head towards Kurisu, who was now sitting straight up grinding her teeth in what could only be described as unfiltered rage, before just as quickly turning his attention back to the waitress where she simply confirmed what he already knew. "We've met each other before haven't we? This is embarrassing, but I would think I would remember such a handsome face if-"

"No you haven't met him."

Kurisu had lost this battle.

Her quickly butting in not even letting the waitress finish her sentence was just the icing on the cake. When Kurisu stated they didn't like each other she wasn't lying, while Okabe didn't know why or even the details the hostility between the two hung over the table like a thick fog barely revealing itself.

That's why Kurisu fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Sometimes victory isn't achieved by bombastic speeches and declarations, but through silent whispers that slip through the cracks. Jenna never made it explicit what she was doing and if one wasn't paying attention or was blinded with rage you couldn't even notice she had waged her battle since the very beginning. Her overtly friendliness towards Kurisu? Her interest in Okabe? Her apparent attempt to flirt with him? All this was a ploy to rile up Kurisu and ruin her date and even though Okabe shouldn't have any kind words for Jenna he had to admit it was a simple yet ingenious plot. And almost like a victory lap Jenna slowly released her hand from Okabe's shoulder and laughed a very obvious forced laugh.

"Sorry for that must have been mistaken I'll get your orders in right away."

Just as the waitress left Okabe turned to gaze at Kurisu who was now crossing her arms with her eyes closed and a frown plastered on her face. There was no other way to put it Kurisu looked genuinely upset. Watching his assistant a tinge of guilt spilled into Okabe at the realization he was the key cog in all this. Sure Jenna used him like prop to enact her plan, but Okabe had unwittingly perfected it with his stupid blunder. Okabe was certain Jenna's initial attempt was to annoy Kurisu, but when he called her Da-Zombie, all bets were off. Kurisu exploded and Jenna took advantage by coming over to further rub salt in the wound.

Or at least that's what he told himself afterall there was a pretty good chance Okabe was selfishly antagonizing Jenna to make himself feel better. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that, while they didn't like each other, Jenna would actually actively try to ruin Kurisu's date, realistically it was probably more likely she was trying to annoy Kurisu more than anything rather than ruin her date. But nevertheless Okabe felt like he should do something to brighten Kurisu's mood.

For starters whatever this Urban cowboy was he decided it was gonna be the best damn thing ever even if it was mixed with shit. But Okabe knew that wouldn't be enough, in the back of his mind regardless of what was reality and what was false he knew at the rate they were going this entire trip was gonna be a bland and unenjoyable experience, hell they were already genuinely upset with one another!

And with that as he watched his still frowning assistant, a stupidly wide teasing smile spread across Hououin Kyouma's face as he crossed his arms coolly and gave a low chuckle.

"What?!" Kurisu questioned rudely as soon as she heard his snicker which then morphed into full blown laughter. "What are- Stop acting so weird."

"Weird you say? Nonsense! I had simply forgotten how clingy my assistant can be!" Hououin Kyouma teased out with a smirk while Kurisu's cheeks bursted into a shade of red.

"Clingy? I-you're just seeing things! I don't like her ok a-and she-"

"Muhahah! It's OK Christina, afterall it is only natural for someone close to Hououin Kyouma to feel this way! Especially for his personal assistant, who I might add has harbored feelings for him since she laid eyes on him after being swept off her feet by his grand intellect and dashing personality! But even I am surprised in how much anger you showcased over such an incompetent floozy, Ha! I would assume my brilliant and over qualified assistant wouldn't waste her time with what can barely be qualified as intelligent life, in fact I should reprimand her for losing focus on my goal of world domination and serving her superior!"

"D-Don't act like an idiot!" Kurisu loudly stammered which only encouraged Okabe to continue as he once again laughed his signature laugh.

"Muhaha! It still amazes me Christina that after you constantly claim not to be a tsundere you go out and do everything a tsundere does."

"I-I'm not a tsundere!" Kurisu exclaimed while the blush that attacked her earlier only intensified.

"That is not up for debate, My Perverted Experiment Loving Tsundere!" Okabe proudly stated which further annoyed Kurisu who rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a pout as she leaned backed on her chair looking off to the floor. "Try as you might, you display every characteristic of a tsundere, muhahah! You act so stubborn ridiculing and belittling the great mad scientist at every opportunity you get, but once another woman and not just any woman, but one who has an IQ that might rival a stick of gum, shows any interest in the great mad scientist you immediately antagonize her! Then once everything is set and done you retreat behind that mask of indifference and a slew of insults, the prototype tsundere move!"

"It's not that I want to- it's-arghh dammit!"

"Muhahahahah! Try as you might it is ingrained into your very being Christina! But even with that you of all people should know my loyalty for all my lab members is unparalleled, especially for my assistant! Without a worthy assistant a mad scientist is nothing and luckily for me I have an extraordinary assistant that on a good day might rival me as a mad scientist, Muhahhehah!"

As the words left Okabe's mouth a genuine smile found itself on his face as he eagerly awaited for Kurisu to shoot him down once again, but it never came as she shifted her eyes from the floor to him before they quickly returned to the floor trying to conceal a small smile working it's way across her face where a small giggle finally escaped her lips before she fully turned to gaze at him with a pleased smile.

"Aye, aye, if you say so, please stop acting like an idiot will ya?" Kurisu playfully pleaded as she reached over to the side of the table and pulled out a napkin from its dispenser before crumpling it and light heartedly threw it at him. "If I knew Hououin Kyouma was coming along I wouldn't have agreed to this."

Okabe raised his eyebrow as a triumphant smile plastered his face where he stated, "That's more like the assistant I know!"

In that moment it felt as if his worry and anxiety had truly vanished along with his hopes and desires.

In that moment Okabe finally felt like he had finally reunited with his assistant.

In that moment Okabe realized the reunion he had thought of endlessly and hoped for was that.

A thought.

In that moment Okabe realized what he thought their relationship should be was that.

A thought.

There was time to fix all that, but you can't run a mile without running a few feet first.

"You really are something else huh?" She simply said with a grin as she leaned forward and propped her elbow on the table before resting her face in her palm. "So Okabe how did everyone take it that you were coming here?"

A small, but easy smile replaced the grandiose look Hououin Kyouma had demanded as Okabe shrugged and simply said, "It was interesting."

"Ha. I bet it was." Kurisu jabbed back suppressing a chuckle. "How's everyone doing?"

"Good. Mayuri's gonna graduate in March, Daru got a work study in the university doing IT and Faris is thinking about opening up another May-queen's. The rest are pretty much the same as before you left- Oh that reminds Yuki told me to tell you the next time you go to Japan to try on some cosplay with her."

"Ayee, like that would ever happen." Kurisu sighed out shaking her head. "I still can't believe she's dating a guy like Hashida. It amazes me he hasn't creeped her out by his perverteness."

"Well I have some news for you, he's gonna introduce her to his parents for the holidays." Okabe simply stated making Kurisu actually gape in shock.

"R-really?"

"Yeah even his parents thought she was some body pillow or something."

"Well I don't blame them." Kurisu joked as both gave a small chuckle before she said. "Say Okabe, speaking of... that... did you-... did you tell your parents about me?"

Immediately Okabe stopped laughing as he felt his face tighten as he swallowed a lump in his throat he didn't even know he had before uttering, "I...yeah."

"Really?" Kurisu said not hiding the shock and intrigue in her voice. "Wh-what did they say... about... m-this?" She hesitantly asked making Okabe a bit more embarrassed as he recalled exactly what had transpired when he informed his parents about his trip.

Deciding to just come clean Okabe settled for, "Well... my mom... was... she said you and- Mayuri was prettier and my dad-"

"What?" Actually while that was awkward Okabe had almost told Kurisu his mom thought she and Mayuri were... doing the deed with him, but judging by Kurisu's reaction he actually felt relieve he didn't accidentally say it. "Did-did you show them a picture of me!?"

"Uh-kinda of." Okabe rushed out as he scratched the back of his neck while the blush Kurisu had only intensified.

"Y-you didn't show them that picture did you?" Kurish asked which once Okabe processed what she asked he immediately flushed.

"I-No! Why!? I showed them the o-one we took before you left!" Okabe stuttered out as his mind tried erasing the thought of ever showing anyone that picture. Now it wasn't the most risque picture out there, but by their standards it might as well been. The picture in question was taken about three months ago which consisted of Kurisu posing in front of the mirror with an oversized pink T-shirt showing off her figure in her bathroom mirror. Now Okabe wasn't gonna say it wasn't... enticing in fact many nights would disagree with him if he did and if he was being honest he could remember exactly what led to those events.

For starters it was her idea. Out of nowhere she had asked him that she would like a recent picture of him to which he agreed to do so, granted she do the same. Okabe was expecting a random photo like a yearbook headshot or something...not what she gave. So after his mind settled down and his heart beat steadied he decided to send her a similar photo as well, trying to show off his body. Admittedly her picture was infinitely more... sexier, but after both pictures were exchanged neither commented or ever brought it up again in fact they were to embarrassed to talk to each other for the next two days. It was an interesting experience and one neither ever dared to repeat ever since.

"Oh. So... your mom said that?" Kurisu questioned trying to break the awkwardness that had fell upon them with her previous question.

"Uhh-y-yeah, but she was... kinda devastated about the news." Okabe confessed peeking Kurisu's interest prompting him to explain. "My mom always thought me and Mayuri were... a thing I guess and when I told her we weren't... she kinda... didn't take it too well."

"I don't blame her thinking you and Mayuri were a thing." Kurisu seriously said before adding. "When I met you Mayuri was always there and always so happy to just be around you... I guess at first I thought she was your... girlfriend."

"Why does everyone say that?" Okabe asked in disbelief.

"You honestly don't know why people would think that?" Kurisu prompted as Okabe shook his head. "I mean she always with you and she always happy when she's around you and... you seem happy too." Mindlessly Kurisu's gaze fell to the side avoiding any eye contact with Okabe as she added the last part.

"Of course I would." Okabe seriously stated as Kurisu quickly turned to look at him. "She's like a sister to me. We've known each other since we were children and we've been inseparable ever since. I guess in a way you can say she is irreplaceable to me."

Just like you. It was funny that when talking about Mayuri Okabe had no problem saying those words to whoever was there to listen, but with Kurisu they seemed so... elusive. He meant it and he knew it to be true, but he couldn't say them... without... well like he decided earlier right now wasn't the time to dwell on such things, right now he should just enjoy himself and the company of his favorite lab member.

"I...yeah your right." Kurisu quietly uttered as she casted her gaze downward for a brief second before she once again looked up at Okabe and asked. "What about-"

"Here's your order!" Interrupting Kurisu the waitress cheerfully exclaimed placing a large glass pitcher between them and in it their milkshake, but what immediately registered in Kurisu's mind was the fact it was just one pitcher and it had two straws, one pointing at Okabe and the other at her.

Her cheeks immediately burst into a shade of red as she looked up at the waitress and gasped, "What's this!?"

"The Urban Cowboy just as you asked right?" The waitress questioned perking an eyebrow at Kurisu who quickly shifted her gaze at the milkshake then back to the waitress.

"Yes, but we wanted two orders not-"

"Oh really? I assumed you two were getting the couple's special? It's-"

"We- we're not a couple!" Kurisu proclaimed taking the waitress back a bit, but before anyone knew it a sly mocking smirk bounced off her face giving a low chuckle along with it before saying.

"Alright my bad, I'll be back with the correct order." The waitress stated as she quicky made haste to correct the order without taking the milkshake she had wrongfully given.

Shaking her head Kurisu muttered, "Some-"

But as her gaze fell back to Okabe she realized why the waitress didn't take back the wrong order as before her Okabe was already eating from the milkshake, using both straws as well.

Noticing Kurisu's stare Okabe stopped mid sip and sheepishly uttered, "What?"

Kurisu could only stare at the sight before giving a small genuine chuckle.

"Aye Okabe, you really are something else."

---

December 21, 2012, 3:45:33 PM EST

"T-this...you live here?"

The house was modest only in comparison to it's surroundings which is to say it was a modest house in a sea of identical houses. In truth Okabe was beyond floored that, not only did Kurisu live in her own house oppose to an apartment or loft, but in a house bigger than the CRT shop and his loft combined. Sure compared to other neighborhoods he saw getting here it wasn't too spectacular, but nevertheless it still left him speechless. The house and most of the houses in the neighborhood were remarkably uniform each appearing almost like carbon copies of one another with similar dimensions and aesthetics. Each house covered in a dark reddish brick contrasted with a white accent, whether that be through their window moldings or roof lines, and surrounded by small neatly trimmed lawns that had turned yellow due to the seasonal shift in temperature.

"Of course I live here. It's the one on the left." And of course another important aspect of the neighborhood was every two houses were conjoined together giving the appearance of a larger house with two front doors while the next house was separated only by a small gap a few meters wide which went on for the whole block.

"The left?" Okabe questioned as Kurisu made her way towards the wooden door while Okabe timidly followed behind.

As the pair were now only a door knob away from her house Kurisu reached into her pocket producing a set of keys where she began thumbing through them before commenting rather matter-of-factly, "Yeah, now are you gonna stand there like an idiot all day or are you coming inside?"

And just like that Kurisu abruptly stopped fiddling with the keys as she stared blankly at nothing before a faint tinge of heat crept onto her face. Okabe for his part just stared at the redheaded girl as she began mumbling something incoherent so not wanting to continue this awkward turn of events Okabe opened his mouth only to the sound of an old lady's greeting.

"Hello there, Kurisu." Somehow neither had noticed the elderly lady creep up on them as standing only a few feet away infront of the other door, with two grocery bags in tow, stood a little hunched over lady with a thick black winter coat and a leopard pattern scarf topped off with a mop of fine salt and pepper hair. Her words had knocked Kurisu out of what ever befell her as she quickly turned around and greeted the old lady.

"Hi Mrs. Myers." The words easily rolled off Kurisu's tongue in English which seemed to please the old lady as she returned the greetings with a smile before her gaze fell on Okabe.

"Oh, I see you brought a friend." The elderly lady stated mischievously with a teasing chortle, "Nice to meet you, Sonny-boy."

Notcing the gesture and coming to the conclusion she was in fact calling him Sonny-boy Okabe nervously smiled as he gave a small wave saying in his best English, "Hel'ro."

Another chortle escaped the old lady's mouth, but this time a more hearty and loud one as she slyly said opening the door and entering her house, "Good to see you Kurisu and you too Sonny-boy, just keep it down when you get in there OK, I wanna hear Trebek on Jeopardy tonight!"

And like that once the old lady had returned to her house the silence resumed until quickly Okabe cleared his throat and simply asked.

"So, are you gonna let me come inside?"

Kurisu replacing that smile she had talking to Mrs. Myers quickly turned to looked at him frowning before curtly saying, "Don't say it like that."

"Like what?" Taken back Okabe questioned looking at Kurisu who crossed her arms and pouted.

"'Like what'" She mockingly mimicked with her eyes closed before opening them to glare at Okabe and added rudely, "You know what."

"Uhhh, isn't that why we came here? I can't go inside without you letting me in first, or do I have to teach my assistant how doors work?" Okabe teased with a smile hoping to literally turn Kurisu's frown upside down, but her glare never relented. "Uhhh-"

"You did it again. I know you did that on purpose!" Kurisu proclaimed as her folded arms quickly landed on her hips as she continued to stare down Okabe.

"Uhhh...I did what on purpose, exactly?"

Rolling her eyes Kurisu explained,"You were all, 'Oh you live here' just so everyone can see you are going to my house! Then you say, well aren't you gonna let me come inside, don't act like I don't know what you're trying to do?!"

Taken back and beyond confused Okabe simply stated,"I don't understand, why would going into your house be a big deal? And what's wrong with asking if I can come inside-" Just as the words left Okabe's mouth and the sight of his flushed assistant fully took over his line of sight a thought quickly crept into Okabe's mind which quickly explained everything as Okabe facepalmed laughing at the realization. Christina really was a pervert. "You-Hahahah. Really Christina? I expected much more from you! I wouldn't expect my assistant to have such juvenile thoughts! Or what? Was the American virgin afraid of losing that title hahaha!"

It was funny and it was probably the most Okabe had ever laughed in the past two days as he jumped in front of a frowning embarrassed Kurisu and pointed a finger inches away from her nose laughing. Then the implications of his joke immediately suckered punched him in the face as Okabe abruptly stopped laughing and a blush of his own exploded in his cheeks.

"W-wait that came out wrong-"

"You-You pervert!" Kurisu exclaimed as she batted away Okabe's finger and pointed a finger of her own at him, "So you were thinking about that all this time!"

"I-No you were Christina!" Okabe defended as he batted Kurisu's finger away and again pointed his finger at her. "I'm not the one who turned such innocent questions into such sick and repulsive thoughts!"

"Repulsive? Are you referring to me because the only repulsive thing I see here is the scrawny pervert standing infront of me!" Kurisu fired back once again pointing her finger at him.

"Likewise!" Okabe shouted as now both him and Kurisu were pointing fingers at one another in front of her house glaring at one another. It was a sight to behold as neither relented almost as if one was waiting for the others arm to get tired and stop pointing, but as it continued Okabe couldn't help but find this whole thing funny. It was something he didn't even know he had been missing for the past year up until this point. Sure they might have yelled at one another and called each other names, but right now it felt... like a part of him. A part of them.

So he smiled.

Then she smiled.

So he laughed.

Then she laughed.

It could only be described as a nice moment between the two as now both were just smiling at one another like idiots, but something about it still rang true in Okabe's mind...

"Okabe... we look like idiots."

...It felt almost as if they were picking up where they left off...

"Hey you started it, Christina, I only followed your lead."

...a year ago...

"Aye, aye, just get inside before you make a bigger fool of yourself."

...But that was a story for another day.

As Okabe stepped inside the house, it was rather homely to say the least. It wasn't dirty by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't exactly spotless, of course unless Kurisu was a middle aged mother living with three adolescent boys there was an ungodly amount of freshly opened order killing products laid around the entirety of the house. For starters there were two of them in the two outlets in the hall, one in the entrance and the other further in next to the stairs.

Stepping further inside to the right side of the house was an archway with brown stained wooden moldings that led to the kitchen and front room. The front room was small with a large table that housed six chairs, a pair on the left and right side and one on top and bottom, taking up most of its space with no windows. Considering it was next to the neighbors side of the house that was expected, but what it lacked in windows it made up with two generic paintings, one of a planted vase washed over with a brown tint and the other a landscape portrait depicting a sunrise over a forest. Deeper into that area and towards the back of the house from what he could see was the kitchen, but from his perspective there wasn't much he could see to describe it.

On the opposite side of the house across the hall was the living room but this time instead of a table, it housed a large grey sectional sofa that formed a squarish U shape in the middle of the room and seated deep blue and white pillows. Another vastly different thing from the other side was the presence of three windows, one large one that faced the street and two smaller ones that faced the side of the other neighbors house giving the perfect view of their wall. Outside of those two rooms was the hallway that led to two doors, one directly opposite of the front door and the other to the left side of the wall just beyond where the living room ended. To the right side of the hall were the stairs that led to the second floor and from his vantage point to at least three other rooms.

Of course with all that being said only one thing truly drew Okabe's attention.

"You have a flat-screen!?" Yes there in the living room right in front of the large window was a pitch black flat-screen. It must been a thirty eight to forty two incher at least and accompanying such a beauty were two equally impressive speakers.

"I figured that was gonna be the first thing you said." Kurisu exasperated shaking her head as she casually walked over to the front room and removed her jacket placing it on one of its chairs.

Wasting no time Okabe went the opposite way and into the living room where he circled around the sofa taking everything in before he chortled out, "Celeb-17 indeed, muhahah!"

"You know that's been outdated for awhile already right?" Kurisu stated as she made her to the living room without both her jacket and turtle neck.

"The meaning still applies." Okabe retorted as Kurisu passed by him and began closing the curtains. As she did Okabe couldn't help but watch as a tinge of disappointment washed over him seeing she had shed her turtle neck and was now wearing her usual white button shirt sans red tie. "But no matter, now that I am your guess I would like if you sampled your flat screen, for lab research purposes!"

"If you wanna watch TV you could have said so without all that nonsense." Kurisu deadpanned as she sat on the couch grabbing the remote to turn on the television while she rolled her eyes.

"This is important research Christina! Not playtime!" Okabe proclaimed standing a few feet away from the couch pointing an exaggerated finger at the TV set making Kurisu roll her eyes again.

"Sure, sure just don't break anything." Kurisu exasperated while she began flipping through the channels. Watching fully propped up Okabe simply bit his lip before he hesitantly sat down on the opposite end of the sofa where Kurisu sat, who timidly scooted closer to the edge away from him.

Finally sitting down and taking in the TV Okabe was glued to the vastly different optics the flat-screen provided than the TV in his lab. The picture was crisp and the sound was full, and while it wasn't as nice or as fancy as the TV in Faris's house it was never less a huge upgrade than the tube TV they had in the lab. But as much of a high it was watching such beautiful visuals came the reality he couldn't understand a word those visuals spoke. While he knew some English hearing it spoken so fluidly and fast mixed him up rendering his basic grasp of the language useless as all he could deduce were the snippets of simple words such as the or hello.

"Say Okabe." Kurisu suddenly softly said grabbing Okabe's attention as he turned to face her. "D-Do you wanna watch a movie?"

That was unexpected, but what really stuck out was her soft tone. Kurisu only spoke like that when she was either unsure, embarrassed and usually that only happened when it was just the two of them. It was easier that way, alone and together simple questions like that didn't need to be met with loud and bombastic remarks. Alone simple questions could be answered with simple answers and right now was no different.

"What do you have in mind?" Okabe answered just as softly. It was strange that in moments like this he actually felt loose and easy around her oppose to nervous and embarrassed like he always did. She made him uncomfortable in public and he could never figure out why.

Maybe it was the fact she was beautiful that intimidated him or maybe it was because she a genius either way the only way he felt comfortable around her was acting out in his mad scientist persona. When they talked on the phone Hououin Kyouma didn't have to keep constantly appearing to keep such trival conversations alive and perhaps that was because he didn't have to see her face to face. Whenever he was around her he felt like his pants were more wrinkled than they should be and his hair too greasy to say it's been freshly washed and on the flip side he felt she was always impeccable from her shoes to her hair everything was finely groomed. Even Okabe admitted it wasn't exactly the most reasonable thing to feel, but he couldn't help it she made him uncomfortable.

Kurisu wasn't exactly a people's person, but compared to Okabe she was leagues above his social awareness. Growing up words never seemed to come easily for Okabe, eye contact seemed like a death sentence and expressing yourself was torture it was who he was and it was what he was today, awkward. His lab could attest to that, hell in one worldline he even told her he created his lab to make friends and in a way he succeeded. But he still felt awkward.

That's why in these moments when she would cast her gaze downward and timidly say something, it reminded him she wasn't perfect and he didn't need to be perfect, but the sad thing was no matter how many times it happened eventually his uneasiness would return.

"A Christmas story."

"What?" Okabe plainly asked as Kurisu began flipping the channels never making eye contact with him.

"It's an American movie they always play on the holidays, I think...I think you'll like it." She simply answered back as she flipped some more through the channels until she finally settled on a black screen. "Ahh good this channel always plays a marathon of it till Christmas, luckily we caught it from the beginning."

"Umm, is it in Japanese?" Okabe simply questioned as finally their eyes met for the first time on the couch.

"No." She simply replied before a small smile graced itself on her face. "But I could tell you and explain what's happening."

As the words left her mouth Okabe couldn't help but give his own little smile filled with irony. In a way Okabe knew most if not all of his musing and uneasiness were self-inflicted and in a way they were just excuses to make up for his lack of initiative to further things with Kurisu. But he was right about one thing, in this worldline he always waited for Kurisu to push forward their relationship. Whether she was trying to share something she enjoyed onto him or she picked a random movie he wouldn't understand so she could have a valid excuse just to talk to him.

Either reason was good enough for him.

---

December 21, 2012, 6:08:44 PM EST.

He didn't expect to cry.

He also didn't expect that somehow Kurisu would cling to his arm basically whispering the movie on his bicep while he had leaned his own head on hers.

But most of all he didn't expect to find the movie so... beautiful.

In a way that blonde kid was him.

That blonde kid from what Kurisu explained wanted a BB gun so much for Christmas that when he did get one he shot himself blind or at least when it ricocheted off his glasses he thought he did.

For some reason that kids story reminded him of himself and the journey he took that faithful day when he saw Makise Kurisu laying in a pool of her own blood.

Life before that faithful day was simple, he was just some weird loser college student lost in his own chunni world living a directionless life. Sure he never was serious about the organization or any of that mad scientist stuff, but after that faithful day he was serious about time travel. The discovery of a lifetime was in the palm of their hands or more specifically in his hands. Once the possibility arose that some college kids could invent time travel and change the world as we know it he wanted that accomplishment more then anything. Hououin Kyouma might have talked a grandiose game of world dominance and other nonsense, but Okabe Rintaro dreamt to be something more than just Okabe Rintaro.

He wanted his name to resonate with total strangers, he wanted people to strive to be like him, he wanted to be remembered, but those were just fantasies everyone dreams about at some point in their life.

But that day made it a possibility and he drove to make it a reality.

And in a way time travel was what that BB gun was to that kid.

A dream they desperately chased only to finally get it and shoot themselves blind.

Maybe it was what he put Mayuri through...

Maybe it was the memories he erased with Suzuha...

Maybe it was because of what he took away from Faris...

Maybe it was what he denied Ruka...

Maybe it was what happened to Moeka, Mr. Braun and Nae...

Maybe it was what he did to Kurisu...

That he cried.

He didn't sob.

He didn't bawl.

He just cried.

The tears just fell, nothing more and nothing less.

And Kurisu she just let him cry.

He didn't say why and she never asked.

They just were there leaning on one another silent expect for the encore of the movie playing in the background. And it was in that moment when Okabe had finally moved that he realized something also.

The end of the movie was a happy one. All that became a story the blonde kid would tell to his children with fondness as it was a Christmas never to be forgotten.

And in a way at the end of his time travel hell he clawed tooth and nail for his happy ending.

While that blonde kid got beat up, bullied, given stupid Pajamas and shot himself with the gift he wanted the most that Christmas, he had a happy ending.

While he gave everyone of his friends their deepest desires and methodically took away each said desire. He saved them and the world. While he met and fell in love with the love of his life, he also killed her. But he saved her and prevented World war three. But nobody besides him would know that, in this worldline no one would know how many times Mayuri died or about their fulfilled wishes, to them they never happened, only he could appreciate this... happy ending.

But it wasn't fair.

He never wanted to put Mayuri through so much pain watching each time as she died from the most heinous to the most oddest of ways. But he had to.

He never wanted to erase those memories everyone shared with Suzuha, especially that of fulfilling her dream of meeting her father. But he had to.

He never wanted to take away Faris's father and the loving relationship they had, where the last words she spoke to him would be she hated him and that she wished he never came back. But he had to.

He never wanted to deny the happiness Ruka felt when he became a girl because to Ruka becoming a boy again met he would have to bury those feelings he could freely express as a girl. But he had to.

He never wanted to kill Moeka and Mr. Braun and orphan Nae because of his actions. But he had to.

He never... he never wanted to to Kill Kurisu...But he had to.

He had to do all that to get his happy ending.

And it hurt.

The guilt.

The pain.

The suffering.

But just like how that kid thought be shot himself blind only to have shot off his glasses, Okabe ran into her.

It was that chance encounter in the streets of Akihabara that made everything seem... OK.

And as he finally looked at Kurisu he couldn't help but grin inwardly.

She had always helped him whenever he was in a bind, no matter where he was or what he was in she was always there to listen, to comfort and to confine in.

Seeing her that day made him accept that while he couldn't bring everyone a happy ending it was OK for him to enjoy his.

But before he knew it she had met his gaze as if she had heard his thoughts and the two locked eyes. From there he didn't know who moved first, but in the end it didn't matter as the result ended the same.

They had locked lips.

It had been a year since he last kissed her and he felt it. A desire boiled within him as the two had morphed a string of chastised kisses to ones where neither wanted to break apart. Her lips were soft and her breath was hot as the linger of her ice cream tickled his tongue and before he knew her tongue as well.

Before he knew it their position on the couch had changed to one where he was practically on top of her clinging onto her like she might vanish, as his hand had gone from her hip to her hair. Like the few times they actually made out, they didn't really say anything to one another they just... knew. They played off of one another always keeping clear of never going beyond kissing, but in that moment something ticked in Okabe's brain. It wasn't that he was gonna take off his pants or her pants, but instead it was words his father had playfully teased him with as a boy.

Once when he was about ten or eleven his father had overheard him telling his mom about a girl in school and for some reason his father jumped in. Maybe he was buzzed or maybe he was just being silly, but those words so stupid and gross back then didn't seem so bad right now.

So on instinct his father's words squeezed itself into his brain as he suddenly broke off the kiss and immediately led a trail of them right underneath her jaw and in between her Adam's apple. Whether there was a specific side he should have done he didn't know, but he settled for her left side as before he knew it he had began kissing that spot, bordering on biting, while she let out a small low whimper in response. It was unlike anything Okabe had ever heard resonate within another person, let alone because of his own doing and it was... pleasing, but just as his excitement began taking hold of him she had grabbed his face and the two once again locked eyes.

Their breaths were husky and erratic, but there was a moment of clarity and calmness as they looked into each others eyes. Her face was flushed and her hair was wild while Okabe was sure he looked similar in appearance, but before he could even build on that she suddenly pulled herself up and kissed his neck right next to his Adam's apple and with one motion licked a trail in the shape of an upside down U from that side to the top of his Adam's apple then to the opposite side.

To his surprise a delicate whimper escaped his own lips as his knees actually buckled and his whole body shuddered for a few seconds while his breath came out in short staggered burst. Never in a million years would he have thought something so simple was so damn exciting, literally his arms and legs became weak as his heart decided there was only one vital organ that dictated where his blood needed to be. And as she pulled him on top of her for an embrace he wanted her to know exactly where that blood was going to.

Now it was more about instinct then logic, right now he couldn't get enough of her and he wasn't going to-

Then the doorbell rang.

At first neither heard it until it rang again followed by loud knocking.

Suddenly Okabe found himself lifting himself from Kurisu as they both tried catching their breathes before she spoke up.

"I-Is that the pizza?" During the course of the film she had the brilliant idea to order pizza just as the movie was about to finish, which didn't go unnoticed by Okabe, but he reserved his compliant as suddenly his stomach chomped at the bit at the notion of getting actual food.

Of course neither were expecting that at the end of the movie they would be making out so the pizza delivery interrupting them never crossed their minds. But the funny thing about doing such an act tends to inflate your brain with... hormones that for the most part don't exactly make the brightest choices. "Let me get it."

Just like that Okabe quickly offered to get the pizza. If this was any time any other circumstance he wouldn't have offered, but under these specific circumstances he wanted to answer that door. He wanted that pizza delivery person to see he was in the middle of an intense makeout session with the most amazing girl ever. Okabe never had gotten high, but he was sure this is how it felt to be on drugs.

"You can't even speak-"

"Tha'ks her'e money, tha'k you." Okabe stated smugly as Kurisu couldn't help but giggle giving Okabe all the fuel he needed as he quickly leaned forward to whisper in her ear huskily. "Plus I doubt you want them to see you like this."

Definitely this wasn't Okabe. He felt... well horny. That was the only word to describe it and he took pride in the fact Kurisu was just as into it as he was leading him to do things he would never imagine doing such as whispering into her ear.

"Fine. Fine, here's the money's and don't embarrass yourself too much idiot." She laughed out as she reached over the couch where she had placed the money and gave it to Okabe. Smiling brightly and with a spring in his step he took the money and strolled merrily to the door.

"Hel'ro-huh?" And as Okabe opened the door his words got stuck in his throat as his pride and excitement was immediately replaced with confusion as standing in front of him wasn't a pizza delivery person, but instead facing him was Kurisu. Obviously it wasn't her, but it looked liked her if Kurisu was twice her age and more... filled out.

"Who are you?!" The older Kurisu immediately questioned as her face contorted with many emotions that were anything but pleasant while Okabe just stood there motionless while his mouth gaped in confusion.

In that moment how he looked immediately became his focal point as he went from wanting to show off his disheveled look to wishing he was dead. Literally his hair was a mess his shirt was wrinkled beyond belief, he was sure his neck was still wet and his pants were...well bulging and of course they were khaki. And he was also pretty sure this older woman was well aware of all this.

"Don't worry about him he's just an idiot." And coming along in a teasing voice was Kurisu who was smugly strutting her way towards them.

Watching in horror Okabe immediately turned his head around as Kurisu came to his his side almost tiptoeing the final few feet as if to try and match his height where he noticed her eyes were playfully closed acting as if she was mad with him. Of course the flush she had when they were making out was still very much obvious, but that wasn't even the worse of it. Her hair was a big mess with strands sticking straight up as if she had been lying down for awhile and her shirt, God, her shirt looked like if she had literally crumpled it up then put it on and to add insult to injury it had a few buttons undone showing some cleavage. And on top of all that she was acting... frisky.

Before he knew it with her eyes still closed she swiped at his hand somehow managing to actually take the money from his hand before she turned to look at him opening her eyes. She then proceeded to pout at him before she suddenly giggled and playfully pushed him with her hip.

It was awesome, but it was equally terrifying as he felt the person at the door suddenly intensify her glare at Okabe.

Finally turning her attention to the door Kurisu extended her hand with the money and said, "I'm sorry for everything he's an idiot-Mom!" Kurisu immediately exclaimed giving a title to this mystery person. "W-what are you doing here!"

"I always come and visit for the holidays, but I think I should be asking you the same thing too, Kurisu." And as the words left her mom's mouth she shot daggers at Okabe who gave a small nervous laugh and instinctively waved.

"Don't wave at her idiot!" Kurisu hurriedly yelled as she began buttoning up her shirt.

"No no, let him introduce himself Kurisu" Her mom coldly said as she stared at Okabe almost as if she was peering into his soul.

Swallowing a lump in his throat Okabe cleared his throat and extended his hand with a smile and greeted, "I'm Okabe Rintaro, nice to meet you."

She looked at his hand then back at his face with a scowl shaking her head in disgust.

And then it registered in Okabe's mind why she was scowling even uglier and he immediately wanted to die.

In no better terms he literally met Kurisu's mom after an intense make out session with her daughter and most importantly with a boner...

...A boner...

...In Khakis...

...And when he stuck out his hand to shake hers she obviously noticed...

This...this was awkward.

A/N

Yup you read that right! But now to the real A/N, this chapter was long very long and I apologize to anyone who was looking forward to a smaller chapter like I had said in the previous chapter. I had no intention of making it a 20.6k long chapter it's just what I had planned for this chapter ended up being longer than I had anticipated. Surprisingly though this chapter didn't get a major overhaul like the previous chapter, almost everything I had planned and drafted ended up being used or built on in this chapter, except for the beginning. I wrote three separate intros, two I scrapped and the third one I ended up using, but originally it was gonna be much longer and set up why Kurisu was looking the other way when Okabe saw her for the first time, but I liked the final product more. Then the real first scene at the airport with everyone was probably the hardest to write because I wanted to really squeeze as much as I could from Okabe's parents and his lab members being together and give everyone a part, but not surprisingly Faris took up most of that dialogue. I don't know I feel Faris is the kind of person that commands most of the attention in a room with her looks and her personality, while Ruka and Moeka were kinda left in the background.

But poor Daru. I was reading this and I was like, damn I whaled on this dude in this chapter. But back to the point that beginning took a lot out of me when I edited and revised it so much so when I started to work on the meat of the story I wasn't liking how it how it was coming out then on top of that my life started to pick up again so I had to get adjusted to having other obligations and how I was gonna spend my free time when I had free time. I ended up taking a two week break from writing, originally I had planned to take just one where I watched an anime called Gun x sword an anime I had been planning to watch, but I also ended up watching Re:Zero the following week. Re:Zero is amazing if you haven't watched it and you like Steins;gate check it out, just be warned you will probably cry, most likely get teary eye and will at one point ask why? And almost immediately once I finished those two shows I started writing again with a new sense of purpose and everything just stared to fall into place.

And finally I want to thank all of you for being patient with this latest chapter I know as a reader it isn't easy waiting two months for an update and I will try to upload sooner, but I won't compromise the standard I have when writing just to upload sooner, in other words I won't rush out a chapter if I feel it isn't ready. Also I wanna give a shout out to that guest, thanks for the review and it's always appreciated seeing your feedback and hopefully this chapter wasn't too long for you! Oh yeah lastly I started to save scenes or large chucks of scenes I ended up cutting out of this chapter (and I plan to do so with future chapters), some are just basic outlines I immediately cut out and others are fully edited and revised when I cut them out and I was thinking of compiling them so at the end of this story I could post them as a bonus chapter, kinda like deleted scenes. For example I have both intros I cut in the beginning of the chapter saved on a folder and at the end of the story you could see what they were or how a scene was originally going to be. I think it's a cool idea, but I don't know if anyone would like that, regardless though I'm still gonna save them cause I like some of them and might use them in the future. Anyways thank you all again and hopefully see you in the next chapter, adios.